92 research outputs found
Enhanced Transmission Due to Disorder
The transmissivity of a one-dimensional random system that is periodic on
average is studied. It is shown that the transmission coefficient for
frequencies corresponding to a gap in the band structure of the average
periodic system increases with increasing disorder while the disorder is weak
enough. This property is shown to be universal, independent of the type of
fluctuations causing the randomness. In the case of strong disorder the
transmission coefficient for frequencies in allowed bands is found to be a non
monotonic function of the strength of the disorder. An explanation for the
latter behavior is provided.Comment: 9 pages, RevTeX 3.0, 4 Postscript figure
Framework for a Case Study Based Course in Safety and Mission Assurance in Human Spaceflight
The feasibility of sending humans to space primarily relies on: is it safe enough? There are few to no courses offered in engineering curriculums that address Safety and Mission Assurance (S&MA) for space systems, and there is a lack of instruction of safety culture, where ethic plays a major role, in current engineering educational strategies, which produces an academic gap. This research proposes a learner-centered course framework to improve engineering teaching strategies and address conceptual understanding of systems engineering, while avoiding single-solution approaches. The framework is also tailored to be interdisciplinary with a macroscopic level overview. Research on ethics shows that ethical behavior is influenced by the introduction of motivational factors in addition to the decision-making process. Theoretical models predict that teaching strategies based on real-life scenarios also provide superior exposure to ethical decision making. Case studies of significant events in human spaceflight will give students real-life scenarios to which they can connect with. If significant case studies of human spaceflight accidents, incidents, and close calls are used in the classroom to teach S&MA concepts, students can connect on an emotional level to the event, making them aware of how integrity, ethics, and safety culture play a role in the engineering decision-making aspect of human spaceflight. By showing both the efficiency of case studies in teaching engineering concepts and the ability of case studies to promote ethical decision making and behavior, this approach promotes students performing with integrity, accountability, and responsibility in safety culture in the workforce
Long-range order and low-energy spectrum of diluted 2D quantum AF
The problem of diluted two-dimensional (2D) quantum antiferromagnet (AF) on a
square lattice is studied using spin-wave theory. The influence of impurities
on static and dynamic properties is investigated and a good agreement with
experiments and Monte Carlo (MC) data is found. The hydrodynamic description of
spin-waves breaks down at characteristic wavelengths
\Lambda\agt\exp(\frac{const}{x}), being an impurity concentration, while
the order parameter is free from anomalies. We argue that this dichotomy
originates from strong scattering of the low-energy excitations in 2D.Comment: PRL Award received, 4 pages, 3 figure
Onset of Delocalization in Quasi-1D Waveguides with Correlated Surface Disorder
We present first analytical results on transport properties of many-mode
waveguides with rough surfaces having long-range correlations. We show that
propagation of waves through such waveguides reveals a quite unexpected
phenomena of a complete transparency for a subset of propagating modes. These
modes do not interact with each other and effectively can be described by the
theory of 1D transport with correlated disorder. We also found that with a
proper choice of model parameters one can arrange a perfect transparency of
waveguides inside a given window of energy of incoming waves. The results may
be important in view of experimental realizations of a selective transport in
application to both waveguides and electron/optic nanodevices.Comment: RevTex, 4 pages, no figures, few references are adde
Recommended from our members
Fielding and calibration issues for diamond photoconducting detectors
Diamond photoconducting detectors are routinely fielded as soft x-ray diagnostics on Sandia`s Saturn facility. We have developed an improved detector mount that provides a 200-ps time response, is easily cleanable, and is very rugged. In addition, we have developed a new, fast insertion unit to apply bias voltage to the detectors. Absolute calibration of the PCDs is carried out either at the Brookhaven National Synchrotron Light Source or on Sandia`s laser calibration facility. We are now fielding diamond elements that have the dimensions 1x3x0.5 nun and 1x1xO.5 mm. We are neutron damaging some of the 1x1xO.5-mm detectors to reduce their sensitivity. We can tailor PCD sensitivity by adjusting element size and neutron damage level
Self-trapping and stable localized modes in nonlinear photonic crystals
We predict the existence of stable nonlinear localized modes near the band
edge of a two-dimensional reduced-symmetry photonic crystal with a Kerr
nonlinearity. Employing the technique based on the Green function, we reveal a
physical mechanism of the mode stabilization associated with the effective
nonlinear dispersion and long-range interaction in the photonic crystals.Comment: 4 pages (RevTex) with 5 figures (EPS
Population policies and education: exploring the contradictions of neo-liberal globalisation
The world is increasingly characterised by profound income, health and social inequalities (Appadurai, 2000). In recent decades development initiatives aimed at reducing these inequalities have been situated in a context of increasing globalisation with a dominant neo-liberal economic orthodoxy. This paper argues that neo-liberal globalisation contains inherent contradictions regarding choice and uniformity. This is illustrated in this paper through an exploration of the impact of neo-liberal globalisation on population policies and programmes. The dominant neo-liberal economic ideology that has influenced development over the last few decades has often led to alternative global visions being overlooked. Many current population and development debates are characterised by polarised arguments with strongly opposing aims and views. This raises the challenge of finding alternatives situated in more middle ground that both identify and promote the socially positive elements of neo-liberalism and state intervention, but also to limit their worst excesses within the population field and more broadly. This paper concludes with a discussion outling the positive nature of middle ground and other possible alternatives
Fast resistive bolometry
Resistive bolometry is an accurate, robust, spectrally broadband technique for measuring absolute x-ray fluence and flux. Bolometry is an independent technique for x-ray measurements that is based on a different set of physical properties than other diagnostics such as x-ray diodes, photoconducting detectors, and P-I-N diodes. Bolometers use the temperature-driven change in element resistivity to determine the total deposited energy. The calibration of such a device is based on fundamental material properties and its physical dimensions. We describe the use of nickel and gold bolometers to measure x rays generated by high-power z pinches on Sandia's Saturn and Z accelerators. The Sandia bolometer design described herein has a pulse response of {approximately}1 ns. We describe in detail the fabrication, fielding, and data analysis issues leading to highly accurate x-ray measurements. The fundamental accuracy of resistive bolometry will be discussed
Single-molecule experiments in biological physics: methods and applications
I review single-molecule experiments (SME) in biological physics. Recent
technological developments have provided the tools to design and build
scientific instruments of high enough sensitivity and precision to manipulate
and visualize individual molecules and measure microscopic forces. Using SME it
is possible to: manipulate molecules one at a time and measure distributions
describing molecular properties; characterize the kinetics of biomolecular
reactions and; detect molecular intermediates. SME provide the additional
information about thermodynamics and kinetics of biomolecular processes. This
complements information obtained in traditional bulk assays. In SME it is also
possible to measure small energies and detect large Brownian deviations in
biomolecular reactions, thereby offering new methods and systems to scrutinize
the basic foundations of statistical mechanics. This review is written at a
very introductory level emphasizing the importance of SME to scientists
interested in knowing the common playground of ideas and the interdisciplinary
topics accessible by these techniques. The review discusses SME from an
experimental perspective, first exposing the most common experimental
methodologies and later presenting various molecular systems where such
techniques have been applied. I briefly discuss experimental techniques such as
atomic-force microscopy (AFM), laser optical tweezers (LOT), magnetic tweezers
(MT), biomembrane force probe (BFP) and single-molecule fluorescence (SMF). I
then present several applications of SME to the study of nucleic acids (DNA,
RNA and DNA condensation), proteins (protein-protein interactions, protein
folding and molecular motors). Finally, I discuss applications of SME to the
study of the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of small systems and the
experimental verification of fluctuation theorems. I conclude with a discussion
of open questions and future perspectives.Comment: Latex, 60 pages, 12 figures, Topical Review for J. Phys. C (Cond.
Matt
- …